Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters. Nor do I own or have anything to do with any song material that is used.
-Sorry for the long absence. Its taken a while to get back into the swing of writing and I'm trying to overcome some writers block so if this chapter doesn't flow as well as the previous ones, then that's why. Thank you to everyone who has stuck around for so long.-
Chapter 9: Longing
(Minako P.O.V)
A soft sigh left the Venusian's lips before she took a seat on the stool Haruka offered her, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. She chanced a glance along the empty rows of red theatre seats that were fanned out in front of her while losing herself in thought. There was only one more day, twenty-four short hours until the talent show, the biggest show she would possibly ever perform. Not simply because it was in front of the entire school, no that part she could handle, it was because she would be singing, secretly, to the girl she had so deeply fallen in love with. Her best friend, she second in command and fire wielder, Rei Hino. Minako couldn't count the number of times the guardian of Mars was able to avoid her in the past few weeks. And even the times that she couldn't, Rei would remain silent for the majority of the time they spent together within the company of their princess and other Senshi with a quiet, thoughtful and mysterious expression gracing her delicate features.
A soft tap to her shoulder caused Minako to jump slightly before shifting her gaze to the wind guardian standing just to her left. "Want to try it again?" Haruka asked, offering the younger blonde her hand and a warm smile. With a determined fire gleaming in her bright blue eyes, Mina nodded firmly before standing, sliding the stool from their way and moving to center stage with the taller outer Senshi.
"Alright, again from the top."
Aqua blue hair cascaded down slender shoulders as Michiru smiled over at them while watching the two dancers glide gracefully around the stage, seeing her choreography really coming to life with the words Minako's voice carried through the speakers and the way her girlfriend led the younger Senshi.
Three hours later and Minako found herself finally plopping down on her couch, much to her own enjoyment. While she may not be the best dancer, the Love goddess couldn't help the ghost of a smile gracing her full lips as she thought back to her final rehearsal. If she was completely honest, she would never be able to thank the outers enough for all their help. She could remember it as if it yesterday even if it only happened three weeks ago, three long weeks. Minako hadn't been able to talk to Rei for so long that she simply thought she would combust. Of course they made short, direct conversation but nothing more, nothing that best friends would talk about and certainly not past lovers. Nothing even close to the world stopping kiss they had shared. A heavy sign left Minako's lips as she laid her back against the arm rest of her couch. That was her problem, she was thinking of Rei in the past, the passionate, commanding Reiko Mars from the Silver Millennium, from her memories. Guardian of Princess Serenity, but also fierce lover and fiancée to Princess Venus.
"Who am I kidding, none of this is going to work…" she said softly with a sigh to no one in particular, yet a soft masculine voice floated up from the side of the couch, startling the young blonde from her thoughts for the second time that day.
"I never thought I would see the day in all these centuries that the Princess of Venus would give up on something…or rather…someone that she wanted." The solid white cat looked up at his mistress quietly, his head tilted to the side while a small furry tail occasionally swayed behind him. "Where's the Minako I know? You can't be thinking of giving up already?" he asked, easily hopping up onto the arm rest as Minako sat up quietly, golden bangs shielding her eyes.
"You mean the reincarnation of Venus." she murmured softly, as if it was the most obvious point in the world. She would never be able to fill Venus's shoes, and perhaps that's why Rei would never reciprocate her feelings. Unshed tears pooled into cerulean blue eyes as they refocused on her fuzzy companion. "What's the point Artemis? She doesn't remember them, or any of it…and clearly if she does, she wants nothing to do with our past. Nothing to do with…me." A single tear made a wet trek down her smooth cheek, falling into two clinched fists in her lap as the golden princess turned, unceremoniously scooping Artemis into her arms and letting the tears fall into his white coat. A yelp escaped the small cat, yet his green feline eyes softened as the emotions racked Minako's small body. Lifting his head, he pressed his wet nose to her cheek while emitting a low, comforting purr.
As her sobs began to fade slowly in time, he spoke again. "There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but very few things will catch your heart."
Artemis chanced a glance at her before turning his head towards the window, a full moon shining down on them. "There once was a ban on Guardian relationships you know…" he began, stopping only to confirm that he had her attention before continuing. "It was a rule designed for the Princess's safety, for we feared if the Senshi were to become intimate that Serenity's protection could be in jeopardy. Naturally, she wouldn't stand for it once she saw how much it hurt you girls."
"But I remember Venus and Mars were to be married?" Minako asked quietly, lifting a shakey hand to wipe the tears from her face.
"That was after Serenity refused the Senshi protection altogether. She refused to be the only one allowed happiness. She fully trusted in her protectors. However, Mars would struggle the most. As a Martian she had undoubtable loyalty for the Princess that conflicted with her feelings for Venus. It's possible that Rei may be feeling the same as her past counterpart. Just think about it before fully deciding what you want to do." With that, he nuzzled her once more with his head before leaping down to give her time to digest his words. "But Venus was resilient, and pursued the one thing that did catch her heart. Mars."
Mina watch silently as he made his way into her room, making a mental note to buy him a special treat. It was rare that he shared anything from their past that she didn't know already for he feared he would tamper with the future. A single sniffle sounded from her as she took a deep breath, allowing the oxygen to fill her lungs, then slowly escape as she composed herself.
'Will you catch me Rei?' she wondered before standing to stretch, she had a long day ahead of her with only a few hours of sleep to get.
The Next Day: (Rei: POV)
They made their way into the theatre, Ami on her left side while Usagi dragged her from the other. At this rate Rei feared their princess would rip her arm off if she dared to walk any slower. "Hurry up Reiiiiiiiiii!" Usagi had whined in her ear, her arm laced with Rei's, pulling on the fire Senshi to walk faster. "I know you guys have been fighting, but if you walk any slower we're going to miss Minako's performance." Curious amethyst orbs glanced down at the blonde beside her, a dark eyebrow arched. "Why do you thi-"
"Save it Pyro, we all know you guys are arguing about something." Makoto stated, interrupting Rei as she was about to speak.
"You haven't even looked in Minako's general direction as of late." The bluenette added, looking over at their raven haired friend, whom saw a softness in Ami's eyes that made Rei fairly uneasy. She saw Ami offer her a gentle, almost sorrowful smile before they entered to take their seats as others filed in after them.
It was even a miracle that they arrived on time considering Usagi was their friend and infamously known for her lateness. Minako was the third act of the show for her class. They were all in different classes, and all had to participate at some point or another in their classes talent shows. Ami had been the first, constructing an intricate robot whom could calcutely mathematics after than any human she knew. Makoto's went after Ami's, followed by Usagi's. Makoto would end up showing off her brute strength while Usagi attempted to cook as her talent and Rei still shuddered at the aftermath of that. Minako was next and then Rei's school started their series of talent. Of course, she would be doing palm readings, how fitting right?
A sharp elbow to her side by Usagi shook Rei from her thoughts as she saw the heavy red curtains sliding down.
"She's next you guys!" Rei heard her shout before giving the Moon princess a stern look for her disruptive behavior. "People are staring…" she snapped, clearly annoyed at this whole situation. Truth be told, Rei's world was in complete chaos. She couldn't understand the feelings she held for the Goddess of Love, the only thing she knew what that they were dangerous. Dangerous for their mission: Protect the Princess. That was their goal, their destiny in life. That was something she knew for certain, she'd had an exact purpose until that kiss. Her first kiss to be exact, stolen by-no…given to Minako even if she knew it was wrong.
A methodical beat filled the theatre as the curtain rose, revealing much to Rei's surprise, Haruka standing center stage. She took clad in a deep red button down, black dress pants adorning her lower half while dark dress shoes finished off her outfit. Though is was masculine, every piece of clothes looked tailor made for the wind Senshi.
(The Heart Wants What It Wants: By Selena Gomez)
You got me sippin' on something
I can't compare to nothing
I've ever known, I'm hoping
That after this fever I'll survive
Rei's breath hitched in her throat as she, along with the rest of the audience watched Minako glide elegantly from the left side of the stage to meet Haruka as her velvet voice rang through the amplified room.
I know I'm acting a bit crazy
Strung out, a little bit hazy
Hand over heart, I'm praying
That I'm gonna make it out alive
Her customary red bow was missing Rei noticed, apparently deciding to let her hair down completely. The black material the Minako's dress clung to her perfect form, a fact that made it more difficult for Rei to gather more air that her lungs desperately needed. A dangerously high slit in her dress revealed flashed of the flawless skin covering her legs down to the matching red high heels, awfully close to the ones Mars herself worn during her transformation.
The bed's getting cold and you're not here
The future that we hold is so unclear
But I'm not alive until you call
And I'll bet the odds against it all
Save your advice 'cause I won't hear
You might be right but I don't care
There's a million reasons why I should give you up
But the heart wants what it wants
The heart wants what it wants
You got me scattered in pieces
Shining like stars and screaming
Lighting me up like Venus
But then you disappear and make me wait
She watched with widened eyes while the girl she loved, twirled gracefully into Haruka's arms as she could feel more than see her friend's eyes turning from the show to her, then back causing a deep blush to paint her cheeks. She could feel herself unraveling before her leader, wilting under the cerulean blue gaze and wishing with all her might that Minako would stop staring directly at her. For the rest of the performance she couldn't nor wouldn't look away. She was captivated by the words, moved by the thick emotion ringing out to them all.
And every second's like torture
Hell over trip, no more so
Finding a way to let go
Baby, baby, no I can't escape
The bed's getting cold and you're not here
The future that we hold is so unclear
But I'm not alive until you call
And I'll bet the odds against it all
Save your advice 'cause I won't hear
You might be right but I don't care
There's a million reasons why I should give you up
But the heart wants what it wants
The heart wants what it wants
The heart wants what it wants
The heart wants what it wants
This is a modern fairy tale
No happy endings
No wind in our sails
But I can't imagine a life without
Breathless moments
Breaking me down, down, down, down
The bed's getting cold and you're not here
The future that we hold is so unclear
But I'm not alive until you call
And I'll bet the odds against it all
Save your advice 'cause I won't hear
You might be right but I don't care
There's a million reasons why I should give you up
But the heart wants what it wants, the heart wants what it wants, the heart wants what it wants…"
(Minako POV)
The dance ended with Minako replacing Haruka center stage, holding out a hand towards a retreating back as her face shined in the stage light, tears streaming down her face as she chest rose and fell quickly. Mostly because of the amount of physical strain it took to sing without sounding winded while dancing, but also because she felt that at any moment she would combust into a thousand pieces under Rei's shocked gaze, clearly she had received the message. Flashing the applauding a hundred-watt smile, she bowed easily for exiting the stage. They wouldn't announce the winner until tomorrow though she really could careless. She didn't really even want to win, at first she did. Until now, in that moment she realized that the one thing she wanted in the world was for Rei to simple talk to her.
Tears welled in her eyes again before she received a gentle pat on her shoulder as Haruka and Michiru congratulated her on a great performance before Usagi came bouncing backstage, ringing Minako's neck in excitement. Smiling she saw Ami and Makoto trailing behind the energetic blonde, though her smile faltered when she didn't see a certain raven haired girl along with them.
"Give her time. She has to work things out for herself." She heard Ami say quietly while Usagi now orbited the outers while whining about how she should have been invited to help with the performance. "And we all know how slow she is sometimes." Makoto countered with a chuckle which quickly spread over Minako's lips as she laughed softly as well. "I know…it's just hard, to wait." She said calmly, wondering just where Rei was at the moment, what she was thinking, what she was doing.
Many hours later into the early morning, the Goddess of Love and Beauty waved goodbye to her friends from her apartment door before fumbling for her keys in the small black clutch she'd carried with her. They had spent most of the time in between at the crown, celebrating Minako's impending award for the show, though secretly she had spent most of her night awaiting the arrival of the object of her affection only to be met with disappointment. "Ah ha!" finding the right key, she unlocked her door, absentmindedly placing her keys on the side table by the door once she closed the door behind her. It was only when she was done locking it and had turned around that she realized she was not alone. A tall, slender figure sat in the rocking chair beside the window in her living room, a book in hand.
"W-what are you- How did you-" she stammered, clearly taken back as the girl across the room quietly marked her page in the book, deep amethyst eyes lifting up to lock with Minako's blue ones.
"…Rei…" she breathed, finding it hard to speak, her back pressed against the cold wood of the modern door behind her.